Specialty

Dr. lai specializes in the following:

Pediatric Cardiology

Sub-specialties: Pediatrician

Description

Pediatric cardiology is a medical field specializing in the treatment of heart defects and diseases of infants, children and adolescents. Pediatric cardiologists, who are also trained pediatricians, use diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms (”echos”), exercise tests and physical examinations to assess valve function. This field is distinct from pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, which focuses on using surgical techniques to repair children’s heart function. Pediatric cardiologists who train to become fetal echocardiographers perform echo tests on fetuses in utero. A pediatric cardiology center may include a range of treatment options, including medication, respiratory therapy, heart surgery and even transplant surgery.

Education

Dr. lai was educated at the following institutions:

Medical School Attended:

the warren alpert medical school of brown university

Year of Graduation:

1986

Licensing

Dr. lai received medical licensing as follows:

Medical License:

Received in 1992

State Medical License:

Issued in the state of New York

Insurance

Dr. lai accepts insurance from these companies:

united healthcare

cigna

mvp healthcare

Acceptance of particular Insurance Plans may vary, based on different office locations. As a result, we've listed Plans accepted at different locations.

Background

See what state and federal disciplinary actions (if any) have been reported against this doctor in the past five years.

Disciplinary Actions:

Not Available

Disciplinary actions are actions taken to punish or restrict physicians who have demonstrated professional misconduct. They are intended to correct the doctor's misconduct. Physicians with disciplinary actions may continue to practice, depending on the board's decision. Physicians who have had a disciplinary action in one state will often move to another state where he/she may have a clean record in that new state. Lifescript's Doctor Finder compiles disciplinary action information from all 50 states, you'll know if a physician has a disciplinary action in more than one state.

Pediatric cardiology is a medical specialty that pertains to the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, heart failure and other heart conditions in infants, children and adolescents. Pediatric cardiology is a subspecialty of internal medicine and general cardiology.

Who are pediatric cardiologists and what do they do?

A pediatric cardiologist is a medical doctor trained in internal medicine, with four years of medical school and three years of internal medicine residency, followed by 2-3 years of additional training in a cardiology fellowship.

Pediatric cardiologists are trained pediatricians who diagnose and treat infants, children and adolescents with congenital heart defects, heart disease, and other conditions. A pediatric cardiologist uses diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms (”echos”), exercise tests and physical examinations to assess valve function. Pediatric cardiologists who are trained as fetal echocardiographers may perform and interpret echo tests on fetuses in utero. A pediatric cardiology center may include a range of treatment options, including medication, respiratory therapy, heart surgery and even transplant surgery. Pediatric cardiologists usually do not perform major surgeries such as open heart surgery; such surgeries are performed by pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons.

What are the most common symptoms and conditions that concern a pediatric cardiologist?

Abnormal heart rhythms – An irregular heartbeat, also referred to as arrhythmia; may be either a slow, rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Congenital heart defects – Heart defects (such as a hole in the heart muscle or valve) that are present at birth and range in severity. Serious heart defect symptoms arise soon after birth and include loss of healthy skin color; pale gray or blue skin (cyanosis); rapid breathing; swelling in the legs, abdomen or around the eyes; and poor feeding leading to insufficient weight gain. Less serious heart defects may be detected when a child is older; symptoms may include shortness of breath; becoming easily tired during exercise or activity; and swollen legs, ankles or feet.

Congestive heart failure– When the heart can’t pump blood normally (heart failure), the body doesn’t have enough oxygen or blood flow; this results in backed-up fluid in the lungs (congestion).

Heart disease – Diseases affecting the heart. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Myocarditis – Inflammation, mainly secondary to infection, of the heart muscle that may weaken the heart’s pumping function.

Pericarditis – Inflammation of the membrane around the heart; inflammation may be secondary to infection, but may be caused by other chronic health problems. Sharp chest pain may occur when the inflamed pericardium rubs against the heart muscle (myocardium).

Pulmonary hypertension – An increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, vein or capillaries that results in shortness of breath and significant heart strain.

Shortness of breath – A symptom of a wide variety of heart disorders, ranging from non-serious to life threatening, such as heart attack or congestive heart failure.